Liner notes says “its not a rock band, not a jazz combo, not a chamber ensemble. Its all three. Only different.” I’d say that sums it up far better than I can (if anything its more of the latter). Don Byron leads these compositions with clarinet. Piano is probably the next foremost instrument. Bang on a Can is an ongoing project of noted musicians, including Eno and others. This stuff is very composed, very orchestral, cinematic. Reminds me a lot of Birdsongs of the Mesozoic or soundtrack music. Many tracks brief, like tiny acts in a play. Hard to describe, just listen, cuz its very listenable.

1) cinematic, urgent, brief
2) angular but rhythmic
3) brief
4) percussion heavy at first, halting, lots of good strings
5) brief, cartoonish
6) pensive, upbeat, dynamic
7) pensive and busier
8) string/piano heavy
9) brief, spiraling
10 pretty and slow, very nice guitar melodies coming through, a nice respite, grows intense
11) marching drums, feel
12) very classic, Leonard Bernstien’esque composed melody, wow
13) very brief
14) slow passages
15) military march feel, ode to the Tuskegee Airmen
16) brief, looped simple melody gets rich quick
17) more marching beat, military melody feel
18) very brief, sad cello/viola
19) jazzy for sure, some funky guitar in there, swingy funky
20) piano, the only track with voices, man and woman saying town names, stats, gets rockin, louder drumming and some searing guitar, cool!